Hi how are you all today? I am well and have just come back from a refreshing holiday if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook. It was great and I saw so much more of the country I live in. Road trips are the best if I can’t fly anywhere.
My son ended up in hospital last week and lots of things went awry. Reactions to tests and antibiotics were just two things. As I was meditating on it this morning, I felt God remind me that when He steps back from us for just a bit because of unrepented sin or wrong speaking , then things can happen. My son is not following Jesus at the moment bu mama is praying.
So does the Bible confirm this. Yes- over and over. But the story of Job is the most illustrative on this topic. Let’s start reading. In Job 1:1, the story starts out describing Job – he was blameless, upright, feared God and shunned evil. But he wasn’t perfect because he wasn’t Jesus and the Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
In verses 2 to 5 of Job 1, the story is set. Job had 10 children who spent time feasting at each other’s houses. That sounds fine but in verse 5, Jobs reaction to this was that he would send for each of them and sanctify the children and offer burnt offerings in case they had sinned and cursed God. This wasn’t a once off but a regular occurrence.
In verse 6, Satan comes before God and God boasts on Job. But Satan issues a challenge, back off a bit and Job will curse you. This gave entrance to Satan in Jobs life and so began the destruction – all the children died and Job lost everything.
Was this God’s fault? After all it appeared God let Satan do what he wished. Why did God back off a bit? Or did Job open a door that allows Satan access? Chapter 3, verse 25 gives us the answer. Job said the thing I greatly feared has come upon me and what I dreaded has happened to me.
Job opened the door to fear and Satan stepped right through. The Bible tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear. Fear came from Satan and Job succumbed to it.
So how do we ensure that God doesn’t step back from us, even one centimetre. I believe these things will help:
- Repent of our sins
- Submit to God in everything
- Keep our love walk pure
- Be open to the leading and correction from God
Job sacrificed for his children regularly which means it had become a pattern of behaviour. Let’s watch those things that we do in our lives as a result of fear or other ungodly things to ensure we don’t fall into the same trap. Because none of us wants God to move away from us by even a bit.
Keep close to God by reading the Bible, praying and spending time in church and with other Christians. Love God and love others. These are how we keep close to God and keep living the life God intended for you.
Bless you
Karen
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